Improvement in fruit-jar covers



W. G. WHITMAN.

I rut-Jar Cover.

Patented Dec. 18, 1877.

NA PETERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAFHE. WSFHNGTONy D C UNITED STATI-Is'v PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM G. WHITMAN, 0F` CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN FRUIT-JAR COVERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 198,439, dated December 18, 1877; application iiled September 3, 1877.

To all whom it may concer/n Be it known that I, WILLIAM G. WHITMAN, of the city of Chicago, Cook county, State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fruit-J ar Covers, of which the following is a full description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure lv is a side elevation; Fig. 2, a top view; Fig. 3, a vertical section at line a: x of Fig. 2; Fig. 4, afront view of the jar with the cover and wire removed. Fig. 5 is a modification.

This invention relates to so-called self-sealing7 jars or cans; and the object is to provide a cover with devices, connected thereto, so constructed and arranged that by their use air can be eectually excluded from the contents of the jar 5 and it consists in providing the upper end of the jar or can with a wire, secured thereto in an inclined position, andin providing the cover with a wire secured thereto, and so bent and formed that the ends can be hinged to the wire of the neck of the jar, and combined with a notched lever, substantially as hereinafter specified.

yIn the drawings, a represents the upper end or throat ofa bottle,A. bis adiagonal groove in a. c is a recess in the neck a. d is a wire rmly secured in the groove b. This can be conveniently done by bending out the ends of the wire a little and using a tie-wire, e. f is the cover of the jar. As represented, its edge is provided with a iiange extending over the top of the jar. g is a wire, bent into the form shown in the drawings. It is permanently secured to the cover f. This can be done by soldering it thereto, or by soldering a strap to the cover and over the wires. The two ends of this wire g are bent, so as to form eyes h h', to receive the wire d, by means of which eyes the cover is hinged to the wire d. is alever,

pivoted to the bent wire g at j. The lower end of this lever is provided with a notch, k,

adapted to engage with the wire d. lis arubber band upon the top of the jar.

The jar can be provided with two recesses to receive the eyes h h. v

The cover can be applied to the jar by passing the wire d through the eyes h h', and then securing the wire d in its place in the groove b. The cover f will then be hinged to the wire d, and can be raised up for the purpose of lilling the jar. When lled the lever is to be brought down, being then about in the position shown in Fig. l, until the notch ktherein engages with the wire d. Then, by pulling the lever forward and down, the end being practically pivoted upon the wire d, the cover can be very tightly closed down upon the rubber band, effectually excluding the air from the jar or bottle. Of course, the parts are to be properly adjusted, so that the desired object will be accomplished.

Instead of providing the neck of the jar with a groove, a diagonal projection might be placed therein, as represented at m in Fig. 5.

This cover can be applied to glass bottles or jars, or bottles and jars made of other Inaterial than glass.

It is not absolutely essential that the cover be permanently connected to the wire g, though that is the best construction.

I am aware that bottle-Stoppers have been used hinged to the bottle and provided with a lever; but such Stoppers have been hinged upon two pivots, one upon each side of the bottle.

My cover is hinged directly to the wire d, near the top of the jar or bottle, and some of the parts used in bottle-Stoppers are dispensed with.

It is important that the cover be hinged to the jar very near the top. It is also important that the loop n be somewhat long; therefore the wire d is placed in an inclined position. I use a steel spring-wire for g.

The recess c is for the purpose of permitting the lower end of the lever to pass down over the wire d, which wire d passes directly over the recess, and is not bent at this point, as would be necessary if the recess were not provided.

When applied to glass jars, it is necessary that the wire d extend clear around the neck, as there is no convenient way of fastening the same thereto except by means of a groove or projections, The cover could be applied t0 a tin can involving the same principle without carrying the wire d entirely around the same.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. The combination of the inclined wire b with cap f and a suitable fastening device, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The jar or bottle A, having an inclined groove or ange in its collar, in combination with the wire b, cap f, wire g, and 1ocking-1e ver i, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the wire g, having the loop or bend n, with the lever i, fulcrumed on said loop, and provided with notch k for engaging with b, substantially as specified.

WM. G. WHITMAN.

Witnesses:

E. A. WEST, O. W. BOND. 

